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Gleanings From The Word

Category: nature

  • Living Water – the water that truly refreshes

    Living Water – the water that truly refreshes

    Fossilised plants and leaves - McAbee Fossil Beds, BC
    Fossilised leaves – Mcabee Fossil Beds BC

    It was summer, and I was up on the mountaintop, digging  fossilized fish and plants. Kathy opted to stay back on the valley floor with the dog, where it was relatively cool and shady.

    The dig was on private property and appropriately licensed. I toiled away for a couple of hours baking under the sun and realized I had left my water bottle in the car.

    Eventually, I made my way back down the winding path, carrying several ore bags full of samples. I was parched to the point of feeling weak. Kathy met me at the bottom with a cold bottle of water fresh from the cooler. 

    I don’t remember a bottle of water ever tasting that good before.

    In most of North America, we take fresh drinking water for granted. Very seldom, and even then for no more than a couple of days, have I not had plenty of water to drink on demand.

    The people of the Middle East are accustomed to the experience of being thirsty. They are aware from personal experience how personal a commodity is.

    They know how refreshing a cold drink of water can be on a hot day.

    Two of the more common biblical metaphors for the love of God are water and living water.

    You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:1-3 ESV

    Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”  John 4:13-15 ESV

    The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17 ESV

    Remember a time when you were the hottest and thirstiest you have ever been. Now, picture the refreshment of a cold glass of water.

    That refreshment is nothing compared to the refreshment from the well of salvation. The Lord’s living water refreshes like nothing else ever will.

    Allow your thirst for love, forgiveness, and acceptance to be eternally satisfied by His living water.

    Drink deeply.

    Be Blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Birdsong – Thoughts on the complexity of the created order

    Birdsong – Thoughts on the complexity of the created order

    White crowned Sparrow
    White Crowned Sparrow

    I stumbled out of bed for a few minutes around 4:30 this morning. Although the sun didn’t officially rise until 6:59, it was already getting light out. I opened the door and listened for a while. As expected, I heard the wonderful sound of birds singing. It was an early morning serenade.

    The birds love greeting the day, or so it seems. Yet, there is more happening than the birds visiting. Bird calls travel further early in the morning because of differences in barometric pressure. 

    Some studies have also shown that many plants begin photosynthesis up to 30 minutes earlier if they hear bird calls. I don’t know how plants “hear” such things, but the result benefits both birds and plants. Earlier photosynthesis means earlier flowering, flower opening, and increased production. It is similar to the response to plants growing with classical music playing.

    I am always amazed at how our Creator intricately designed the systems of life. The details are often so much more complex than we see on casual observation. The systems are far too sophisticated to have randomly evolved “by chance.”

    Everyone and everything in creation is linked together in some fashion. Each impacts the other.

    The entirety of the complex systems the Lord designed eagerly awaits God’s restoration of all things. Our very home planet is harmed by the sin of mankind.

    Paul writes,

    For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. Romans 8:18-22

    That knowledge shouldn’t turn us into Earth worshippers, but help us remember to be good stewards. It should also help compel us to work to see God’s kingdom come in full

    Paul goes on to say,

    And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

    When you hear a bird sing or see a flower blooming, may it remind you of the God we serve and help steer us on the path of becoming more like Him.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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